Draft appliance for self-propelled vehicles.



D. DUNLAP. DRAFT PPLIANGE POR SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9., 1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

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atkuwqs D'. DUNLAP. DRAFT APPLIANGE FOR SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES.lAPPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1909.

944,956. Patented DQ@.28,1909.

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' Hill!!! 3u 'neuron h1 una K l UNiTED STATES PATENT onirica.

vDIX IDUNLAP, F LA JUNTA, CGLQRADO.

DRAFT APPLIANCE FOR SELF-{PROPELLED VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented Dec. 2s, 1909.

.Application led February 9, 1909. Serial No. 476,937.

ATo all whom it may cof/wem: Be it known that LYDIX DUisnAP, a c1t1- zenof thel United States, residing at La Junta, in the county of Otero,State of Colorado, have invented certain new and use- .ful Improvementsin Draft Appliances for Self-Propelled Vehicles; and I do hereby declare'thefollowing to be aA full', c'lear, and exactv description ottheinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the'art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

-Tlie present invention relates to improvements in draft appliancesforself-propelled vehicles, and it hasfor its general object the provisionof an extremely simple device by means of which the vehicle may pullitself free after its wheels have become embedded in a soft or muddyroad, or caught in a depression therein.

vMore particularly, however, itis the aim A of the invention toprovideadevice of that nature Whichcan'be readily attached'to the -hub ofeither one -of the drive wheels of the Yvehicle when necessary andfirmly clamped lto the rim of the wheel, and can be subsequentlyremoved-from the wheel with equal readiness after the vehicle has beenstarted.

To this end, the'devicecomprises essentially, a hollow drum designed tobe fitted 4upon the wheel hub and provided at it-s inner end with aconcentrically-arranged spi- `der whose arms are formed by threadedclamping bolts .having swiveled heads, whereby said heads can be engagedwith the WheelA rim, and the bolts then vrotated in the properdirection, so ,as to cause them to' `move outwardly of the bushings inwhich the inner ends of .their stems are fitted. The drum has securedAthereto one end of a cable whose other end is provided with an anchor.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in "theaccompanying drawings, in whichcorresponding parts are designated by thesameu reference numerals throughout the several views.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor car,showin 'the application of the invention thereto. ig. `2 1s an enlargedfront elevation of the device; Fig.

-3 is a side elevation ofFig, 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the clamping bolts..

Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, 7 designates one of the rearor drive Wheels of a motor car, 8 the hub of such Wheel, and 9 the rimthereof.A

The draft appliance-Whichis designed for ward the wheel rim 9 and each!is formed` -with a threaded bore in which is .recessed the -inner endportion of a threaded bolt 14,-

the outer end portion offwhich is squared, as'indicated by the numeral15. The outer end of the squared portion of each bolt is in -turnreduced, and has swiveled thereto a head 16 formed by a substantially U-shaped metal strap. These' bolts are likewise inclined toward thewheelrim, so as to 'enable the yheads .to straddle the same, the squaredportion of t-he bolts aiiording wrench-en-4 gaging surfaces, as will beapparent.

The drum'has fastened -to its periphery one end of a cable 17 orothersuitable ieXi- 'ble element, .the other end of Which is providedwith an anchor 18 of any preferred type. It Will be apparent thereforefrom the .foregoing that'to attach the appliance to a motor car, it isonly Anecessary to fit the drum upon the h'ubnof either drive Wheel,

and athen rotate the bolts'in the proper direction by means of a wrenchor other inipleinent until their heads 16 straddle the wheel ri1 n andare clamped tightly thereagainst. This attachment-may obviously be e ected prior to the commencement of the tour, or vnot until the car hasbecome stalled, and in like manner the appliance may be removed from theWheel after having been used, or may remain in place thereupon-throughout the remainder of the tour, ac-

cording as it may be desired.

In operating theappliance, the cable is unreeled from the drum and itsanchor then embedded in solid ground either in advance or 'to/the rearof thecar. The engine is then started-to impart motion. to the wheel,

thus rotating the drum and Iwinding vthe the anchor.A

What 4is claimed is 1. A `draft appliance for the Wheels ofselfpropelled vehicles comprising, in combilation, a tubular drui`adapted to be tted upon the Wheel hub; a series of clamping members s.url to said drum adapted for engagement with the Wheel rim; a flexibleelement fastened at one end to the drtun and adapted to be Woundtherearound; and an anchor secured to the other end of said flexibleelement.

2. A draft appliance for thewlieels ofl selfpropelled Vehiclescomprising, in'combination, a tubular drum adapted to be fitted upon theWheel hub; a series of adjustable clamping members secured to said drumadapted for engagement with the Wheel rim;

drum and adapted to be Wound therearund; and an anchor secured to theother end of said flexible element. A r

3. A draft appliance for the Wheels of self-propelled Vehiclescomprising, in combination, a tubular drum adapted-.to be fittedupon.the wheel hub; a series of endwise movable clamping members secured tosai-d' drum adapted fr engagement with the Wheel rim; a flexible elementfastened at one end to' the drum andadapted to be Woundtherearound; andan anchor secured to the other end of said' flexible element.

4. A draft appliance for the Wheels` of self-propelled vehiclescomprising', in combination,l a tubular drum adapted to be fittedupontheWheel hub; a series of rotatable clamping members secured to said drumadapted for engagement with the wheel rim; a flexible element fastenedatone end to the drum and adapted to be wound therearound; and an anchorsecured to the other Wheel rim; a flexible element fastenedat end ofsaid' flexible element.

5. A draft appliance .for the Wheels of self-propelled vehiclescomprising, incombination, a tubular drum adapted to be fitted upon theWheel hub; a series of rotatably adjustable clamping' members securedvtoV said drum adapted r engagement with the one endto the drum andadapted to'be Wound therearound; `and an anchor secured to the other' end of said lieXible element.'

6. A draft appliance for the Wheels of self-propelled vehiclescomprising, in combination, a tubular drum adapted to be fitted upon theWheel hub; a series of clamping members secured to said drum eachincludving a, headarranged for engagement with the Wheel rim; a flex'bleelement fastened at one end tothe drum and adapted to be Woundtherearound; and an anchor secured to the other end of said flexibleelement.

7. A draft appliance for the Wheels' of end of said'fiexible element. aflexible element fastened at one end to the self-propelled vehiclescomprising, in combination, a tubular drum adapted to be fitted upon theWheel hub; a series of clamping members secured to said drumeachincluding a sWiYeled head arranged for engagement with the Wheelrlm; a flexiblev element fastened at one end to the drum and adapted tobe Wound therearound; and an anchor secured to the other end' of said'flexible element. v-

SKA draft appliance. for` the Wheels of self-propelled vehiclescomprising, in combination, a tubular A drum ada ted to be `fitted uponthe Wheel hub; a series of clampingmembers secured to lsaid drum'eachincluding a head arranged to straddle the wheel rim; a flexible yelementfastened at one end .tothe drum and adapted to be' Wound there.

around; and an anchor secured lto the other 9..A draft-L appliance forlself-propelled 'vehicles compri ng, 1n combination, a tubular adapte tobe fitted upon the wheel hubga series of rotatable 'clamping memberslsecured to said. drum each including with the Wheel rim; a flexibleelement fasi tened'at one end' to the drum and adapted t be woundtherearou'nd; and an anchor. se cured the other end of said flexibleele.- mentl 7 IO. A draft appliance for the Wheels of self-propelledvehicles, comprising incom'- bination, atubular drum adapted to befittedupon the Wheel hub; a series of threaded clampin bolts secured tosaid drum each provide with a swiveledhead arranged for engagementwiththe Wheel rim; a' flexible the wheels of a head .arranged forengagementelement fastened at one end to the drum and'l ada ted to be woundtherearound; and-an -anc or secured to the otherend of said exi bleelement.

11. A draft appliance for the wheels of? self-'propelled vehicles,comprising in com-v bination, a tubular drum adapted to be fitted uponthe Wheel-hubga series of threaded clamping boltssecured to said drumeach provided with a swiveled head arranged to straddle the Wheel rim; aflexible element fastened at one end to the drum and adapted tol be-Wound therearound; and an anchor secured to the other vend of saidflexible ele-' l ment.

l12. AA draft appliance for the Wheels of self-propelled vehiclescomprising, in combination, a tubular drum adapted to be fitted uponthe-wheel hub; a series of radially-dis-y posed clamping members locatedat one end thereof and inclined toward the Wheel rim4 for engagement.therewith; a flexible element fastened at one end to the drum andIadapted to be Wound therearound; and ,an anchor secured to the other endyof said flexible ele'-V 'mentg I 13. A draft appliance fortlie'flwheels' of Self-propelled vehicle comprising, in co111-.bination. a tnbnlar Adrnm adapted lo be fitted upon the wheel hub; aseries of end\\ 'i5en1o\' i able clamping members secured to said drumeach including a head arranged for engagement with the wheel rim: aflexible ele111ent fastened at' one end to the drnm and adapted to bewound therearonnd: and an anchor i secured to the other end of saidflexible element. 1 14. A draft appliance for the wheel.`v of jself-propelled vehicles comprising. in com-Q bination, a tnbnlar dr111nadapted to be fitted upon the. wheel 111111: a serie# of endn'iseimovable clan'ming members F ecured to said i drum each incl11din; a headarranged to straddlc the wheel rim; a flexible ele111ent 3 fastened atone end to the drinn and adapted to be wound therearonlnl; and an anchorSecured tothe other end of said lflexible elenient.

comprising, in combination, a drum provided at one end with a series ofradiallydisposed clamping members adapted for engagement with the wheelrim; a flexible elel ment fastened at one end to the drum and adapted tobe Wound therearonnd; and an i i 1 15.v A draft appliance of the typespecified l anchor secured to the other end of said flexible element.

11". A draft appliance of the type specified lco1npriei11g, incombination, a drum provided at one end with a seriesl ofradiallydisposed rotatable clamping members adapted for el'lgagementwith the wheel rim; a 11cx1ble element fastened at one end tothe drnmand adapted to be. wound therearound;

and an anchor secured to the other end of aid flexible element. t

y1T. A draft appliance-.of the type specified comprising, incombination, a drum provided at one end with a serieof radiallydisposedrotatable clamping members adapt ed for engagement with the wheel rim,ear-,11 haringl a wireled 111-1111: :1 llexible element fastened at ont`end tothe 11'11111 and adapted to be wound therearound; and an anchorSecured to the other end 4of said flexible element.

In testimony whereof, ture, in presence of two \\'itncsses.`

DIX DUNLAPV Witnesses:

F. M; Cannisxin, L l?. ll/Lxnomr.

